Ohio State Commit Royal Named Ohio Mr. Basketball

Although Ohio State’s season came to end on Saturday, the hype is already starting to build around the Buckeyes’ incoming freshman class heading into next season. That excitement was furthered on Wednesday when Ohio State commit and Pickerington (Ohio) Central four-star forward Devin Royal was named Mr. Basketball for Ohio.

It was another feather in the cap for Royal’s dominant high school career. Royal led Pickerington Central to a state title last season and also broke the Tigers’ all-time leading scoring mark on March 10 — pulling in front of former Buckeye Jae’Sean Tate, with 1,475 career points and counting.

🏆 Congratulations @DevinRoyal7 on being named 2023 Ohio Mr. Basketball!

Devin becomes the 12th Ohio State Buckeye to win the award, the last being Malaki Branham in 2021.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/nH4g6iiBTO

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) March 15, 2023

Royal edged out Centerville (Ohio) four-star point guard Gabe Cupps — an Indiana commit — for the honor this season, after Cupps took home the award last year. Royal beat out Cupps by just three votes, 90-87, as voted on by a panel of media members.

This season, Royal is averaging 19.6 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting at a 64.9 percent clip. Royal has led the Tigers to a 23-5 record and a spot in the Division I state semifinal, which will be played at the University of Dayton Arena on Saturday.

Royal is the 12th Buckeye commit to being named Mr. Basketball in Ohio, joining Malaki Branham, Kaleb Wesson, Marc Loving, Jared Sullinger, Jon Diebler, William Buford, Jamar Butler, Tony Stockman, Damon Stringer, Greg Simpson and Jim Jackson.